These are the type of episodes that I don't really count as part of the regular series 😃 I felt the same way about the comedy episodes in Bonanza, and they really over did them in that show ...
Little House on the Prairie (TV Series)
The Legend of Black Jake (1981)
User Reviews
Review this title8 Reviews
Non Canon
drexmaverick15 June 2019
A Humorous Episode
mitchrmp14 November 2013
This is one of those silly episodes. I really like this episode. It all starts with these two stupid bank robbers who get out of jail after stupidly backing into a prison wagon. The arrive in Walnut Grove and overhear Nels and Charles talking about Nels having gold. It's not exactly the kind of gold they are expecting, but after they kidnap him they decide to hold him for ransom. They don't know Harriet like we do!
Harriet's reaction is funny. She doesn't faint because Nels is kidnapped. She faints because they want $100. The ransom note she sends is pretty funny as well, and Nels does a good job in getting her back!
After Harriet disappears, Charles and Almanzo try to solve the mystery. Nancy enlists Willie to help him get their parents back, but Willie eats their plan. Willie really doesn't act his age here. I think he was quite immature...Scary as it is, Nancy was more mature than Willie is!
If your looking for a light-hearted stress-free episode, watch this one. Dr. Baker, Reverend Alden, Nancy, Willie, Nels, and Harriet all bring comic relief!
Harriet's reaction is funny. She doesn't faint because Nels is kidnapped. She faints because they want $100. The ransom note she sends is pretty funny as well, and Nels does a good job in getting her back!
After Harriet disappears, Charles and Almanzo try to solve the mystery. Nancy enlists Willie to help him get their parents back, but Willie eats their plan. Willie really doesn't act his age here. I think he was quite immature...Scary as it is, Nancy was more mature than Willie is!
If your looking for a light-hearted stress-free episode, watch this one. Dr. Baker, Reverend Alden, Nancy, Willie, Nels, and Harriet all bring comic relief!
How to Fail at Kidnapping Without Really Trying...
ExplorerDS67897 December 2010
Warning: Spoilers
After spending twelve years in prison to answer for their unsuccessful bank robbery, Georgie and Max are out and trying to catch a break. After making so many mistakes in their crimes, they're just as determined as ever to get it right one of these days. While riding through the countryside on the back of one poor mule, the two bumbling bandits wander into Walnut Grove, noticing a small advertisement for Oleson's Mercantile right beside the town sign. Well, after listening in on a conversation between Nels and Charles, they think Nels is carrying pure gold, so they follow along behind him as the poor merchant just wanted to go fishing, but they catch up to him down the road, stop him dead in his tracks and hold him up. Well, come to find out, the pure gold was just trinkets, and Georgie makes the mistake of removing his mask during the hold-up, so now they gotta kidnap Nels and hold him for ransom. That night, they deliver the ransom note to Harriet. who fainted dead away. It took Doc Baker to reviver her (darn) and it all came back to her: the kidnappers wanted $100 in exchange for Nels. Feeling to be the only one fit for the task, Harriet went to deliver the ransom herself, despite protests. But Georgie and Max are in for a surprise, because in lieu of ransom money, Harriet left a snotty letter trying to call their bluff and wouldn't risk the money...yeah, leave Nels at their mercy, at least she won't have to be $100 poorer. What a bitch; Well, if at first you don't succeed.... so Georgie and Max send a second note, claiming it's either money, or Nels' life.
Well the fat bitch didn't come through the second time, so Nels decided to try and work with Georgie and Max to help them get their money and spare his life. His solution: kidnap Harriet, so they do just that, and Nancy and Willie try to get the ransom money out of the bank, but have no luck. Not even when they try to rob it. Yes, they attempted to rob the bank using a licorice gun, but that failed when Willie ate it; back at the kidnappers' lair, Nels Oleson, now donning the identity of Black Jake, meanest, darkest outlaw ever to brandish a blade, delights in tormenting Harriet by making her think he was killed. It was all in good fun, but it looks as though they won't be getting their ransom, since only Harriet has access to their bank account. Next logical solution: kidnap Anderson, the banker. Get this: Anderson suffers a heart attack so they have to go fetch Doc Baker, and since Reverend Alden was visiting him, he too found himself kidnapped and brought to Max and Georgie's hideout. With no other alternative left, Nels suggests they simply take the key from Anderson and rob the bank...now why didn't they think of that? So while Baker and Alden are sent on their forced mission, donning black hoods, Charles and Almanzo stake out the bank to await the obviously impending robbery. Well, the two punch-drunk idiots attack and knock out the poor doctor and reverend respectively. But when they came to, they were unable to carry out their task, because thanks to Charles, Reverend Alden forgot the combination to the safe. Next plan of action: the old switcheroo! Never fails! So after an exchange of clothing, Reverend Wilder and Doc Ingalls set off to infiltrate the kidnapper's hideout...and get captured, as do Alden and Baker. Well, with no money and six hostages, Georgie and Max sorta just...give up and run away, releasing everybody. But at least Harriet learns that Nels is alive and well...and faints dead away again. Th-th-th-that's all, folks!
Funny episode. One of Little House's few funny episodes and they really pull it off. Even Nels' cheesy ghost effect was done with dignity. While not one of the best episodes, it's still a lot of fun. Richard Bull was terrific, as were Todd Susman and Royce Applegate as the two bumbling bandits. Nice to see everybody got in on the adventure in this one. Before much longer, all of Walnut Grove would have been held for ransom, but it was only a 60-minute episode. I also liked how Nancy wasn't a total brat in this episode. Just goes to show she could be a responsible person and do what was right if they didn't keep making her character so teeth-gratingly obnoxious. Anyway, if you're a Nels Oleson fan or you like funny Little House episodes, this one is for you. Check it out and learn the true legend of Black Jake Oleson!
Well the fat bitch didn't come through the second time, so Nels decided to try and work with Georgie and Max to help them get their money and spare his life. His solution: kidnap Harriet, so they do just that, and Nancy and Willie try to get the ransom money out of the bank, but have no luck. Not even when they try to rob it. Yes, they attempted to rob the bank using a licorice gun, but that failed when Willie ate it; back at the kidnappers' lair, Nels Oleson, now donning the identity of Black Jake, meanest, darkest outlaw ever to brandish a blade, delights in tormenting Harriet by making her think he was killed. It was all in good fun, but it looks as though they won't be getting their ransom, since only Harriet has access to their bank account. Next logical solution: kidnap Anderson, the banker. Get this: Anderson suffers a heart attack so they have to go fetch Doc Baker, and since Reverend Alden was visiting him, he too found himself kidnapped and brought to Max and Georgie's hideout. With no other alternative left, Nels suggests they simply take the key from Anderson and rob the bank...now why didn't they think of that? So while Baker and Alden are sent on their forced mission, donning black hoods, Charles and Almanzo stake out the bank to await the obviously impending robbery. Well, the two punch-drunk idiots attack and knock out the poor doctor and reverend respectively. But when they came to, they were unable to carry out their task, because thanks to Charles, Reverend Alden forgot the combination to the safe. Next plan of action: the old switcheroo! Never fails! So after an exchange of clothing, Reverend Wilder and Doc Ingalls set off to infiltrate the kidnapper's hideout...and get captured, as do Alden and Baker. Well, with no money and six hostages, Georgie and Max sorta just...give up and run away, releasing everybody. But at least Harriet learns that Nels is alive and well...and faints dead away again. Th-th-th-that's all, folks!
Funny episode. One of Little House's few funny episodes and they really pull it off. Even Nels' cheesy ghost effect was done with dignity. While not one of the best episodes, it's still a lot of fun. Richard Bull was terrific, as were Todd Susman and Royce Applegate as the two bumbling bandits. Nice to see everybody got in on the adventure in this one. Before much longer, all of Walnut Grove would have been held for ransom, but it was only a 60-minute episode. I also liked how Nancy wasn't a total brat in this episode. Just goes to show she could be a responsible person and do what was right if they didn't keep making her character so teeth-gratingly obnoxious. Anyway, if you're a Nels Oleson fan or you like funny Little House episodes, this one is for you. Check it out and learn the true legend of Black Jake Oleson!
Bumbling Kidnappers make for a very funny episode
FlushingCaps8 April 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Our very funny story begins with a bank holdup, where we see two bad guys exiting the bank—but they back right up into a paddy wagon and are hauled off to jail. We are told it is now 12 years later, and the two, Max and Georgie, are riding a donkey just outside Walnut Grove. Max is the leader, played by Todd Susman, who is known as Officer Shifflett to fans of the Newhart series. Georgie (Royce D. Applegate) is the bigger, stronger, and dumber of the two.
They overhear Nels telling Charles about his "pure gold," but they have no way of knowing he is referring to his lucky fishing lure. So the bad guys on their donkey follow Nels on his wagon as he heads out of town. When they accost him and learn he doesn't actually have any gold, they clumsily remove their masks, then figure they can't just let him go.
So they take him to the abandoned mine they want to use for a hideout, and send a ransom note demanding $100. Harriet delivers no money, just a note saying she doesn't believe they'll release him and she doesn't want to lose both her husband AND $100. A second note asking for $50 is similarly rejected.
Now Nels is upset at his wife more than his kidnappers. He tells them he has an idea. Before you know it, Nancy and Willie are asking the bank president for "more" ransom money because Harriet has now been kidnapped as well as Nels. It seems Harriet let them think she paid the previous ransom. The banker won't let them have any money, because Harriet is the only person authorized to remove money from the account.
Back in the hideout, Harriet has been introduced to the gang's "leader" a hooded, quiet man called Black Jake. She mentions that the kids won't be able to get money because she is the only one authorized on the account.
As Harriet is sleeping, Nels gets an inspired idea. The kidnappers had already told her they killed him, so he coats his face with flour and appears, ghostlike, asking Harriet why she didn't treat him better, and promises her he has made his complaints clear and that her time is coming sooner than she thinks. This leads to another of her comical faints, which are numerous in this episode.
The comedy continues as we see Nancy and Willie planning on holding up the bank with a licorice-shaped gun the next morning, only the banker never shows up. It turns out, he's joined the group of kidnappees inside the mine shaft. Soon, he seems to be having a heart attack, so the bad guys go to get the doctor. They return with Doc Baker AND Rev. Alden, who was with Doc.
The next plan—again coming from Nels, as he talks to the guys outside the shaft, away from the others—is to send Doc and the Reverend to the bank, with Banker Anderson's key. This plan goes awry too. Soon enough, there are more of the citizens held in the mine shaft by the bumbling crooks, who are out of ideas on what to do.
Applegate and Susman might not have been as funny as Tim Conway and Don Knotts in the Apple Dumpling Gang, but the style of humor here was quite similar. I thought this was a very funny episode of the series, one of the funniest. I would have liked the series better if, say, one episode of every five had been a comedy like this one. To me, it's a 9.
They overhear Nels telling Charles about his "pure gold," but they have no way of knowing he is referring to his lucky fishing lure. So the bad guys on their donkey follow Nels on his wagon as he heads out of town. When they accost him and learn he doesn't actually have any gold, they clumsily remove their masks, then figure they can't just let him go.
So they take him to the abandoned mine they want to use for a hideout, and send a ransom note demanding $100. Harriet delivers no money, just a note saying she doesn't believe they'll release him and she doesn't want to lose both her husband AND $100. A second note asking for $50 is similarly rejected.
Now Nels is upset at his wife more than his kidnappers. He tells them he has an idea. Before you know it, Nancy and Willie are asking the bank president for "more" ransom money because Harriet has now been kidnapped as well as Nels. It seems Harriet let them think she paid the previous ransom. The banker won't let them have any money, because Harriet is the only person authorized to remove money from the account.
Back in the hideout, Harriet has been introduced to the gang's "leader" a hooded, quiet man called Black Jake. She mentions that the kids won't be able to get money because she is the only one authorized on the account.
As Harriet is sleeping, Nels gets an inspired idea. The kidnappers had already told her they killed him, so he coats his face with flour and appears, ghostlike, asking Harriet why she didn't treat him better, and promises her he has made his complaints clear and that her time is coming sooner than she thinks. This leads to another of her comical faints, which are numerous in this episode.
The comedy continues as we see Nancy and Willie planning on holding up the bank with a licorice-shaped gun the next morning, only the banker never shows up. It turns out, he's joined the group of kidnappees inside the mine shaft. Soon, he seems to be having a heart attack, so the bad guys go to get the doctor. They return with Doc Baker AND Rev. Alden, who was with Doc.
The next plan—again coming from Nels, as he talks to the guys outside the shaft, away from the others—is to send Doc and the Reverend to the bank, with Banker Anderson's key. This plan goes awry too. Soon enough, there are more of the citizens held in the mine shaft by the bumbling crooks, who are out of ideas on what to do.
Applegate and Susman might not have been as funny as Tim Conway and Don Knotts in the Apple Dumpling Gang, but the style of humor here was quite similar. I thought this was a very funny episode of the series, one of the funniest. I would have liked the series better if, say, one episode of every five had been a comedy like this one. To me, it's a 9.
Corny but watchable
awarlock-1770312 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
When it first starts, I was like "Oh boy, not one of these episodes". They show the 2 main characters of the episode trying to rob a bank and walk right in a police wagon, like in an old Charlie Chaplin movie. They jump to 12 years later where the 2 are riding a donkey in search of a mine in Walnut Grove. Anyway, skipping the details, they kidnap Nels, HArriet refuses to pony up the $100 ransom, Nels gets angry and agrees to help the kidnappers achieve their goal. But that proves to be unsuccessful as well. Finally, after capturing too many hostages to feed, the kidnappers free them and then they run off. While Hariet, Willy and Nancy morn the loss of Nels, he appears from the other room. Harriet and Nancy faint and with a big grin, Willy asks Nels if he wants to go fishing. He agrees... The End.
A Farce of Kidnapping & Ransoms
Quinn40771 January 2022
A true farce in Walnut Grove begun by two of the dumbest wannabe, failed "outlaws" - and Nels! This reminds me a bit of the episode about the goat - Fred? I believe - that causes trouble for everyone in town after he's pawned off on innocent Laura as a girl and she tries to pawn him off in turn. In this case, it's these idiot outlaws fresh out of jail riding together on one poor little donkey - Old Paint! - when they come to Walnut Grove and misinterpret a conversation between Nels and Charles that leads them to rob Nels because they believe he has gold! Things go continuously downhill from there with failed ransom notes and kidnappings. A funny and light episode in what is a pretty serious season - the last with the original Little House Ingalls, etc. Season 8.
A really stupid, absurd and inappropriate chapter
drfernandogil16 May 2024
Warning: Spoilers
A really stupid, absurd and inappropriate chapter of Little House on the prairie, and on top of that the story is repeated that the victims end up sympathizing and living with the criminals. - Very bad plot and really boring. I have nothing more to say, but since they require a minimum of characters I am going to repeat the paragraph.-
A really stupid, absurd and inappropriate chapter of Little House on the prairie, and on top of that the story is repeated that the victims end up sympathizing and living with the criminals. - Very bad plot and really boring. I have nothing more to say, but since they require a minimum of characters I am going to repeat the paragraph.-
When Michael Landon wants to have fun...
muratmihcioglu17 December 2023
The very opening of the episode signals us that the whole deal will play out like some dream caused by indigestion. Maybe it even really is, who knows!
The story is not bad at all. It could have worked to make us laugh all the way if only the attempt at campy humor had found its way through the loopholes of the Little House on the Prairie universe.
I wonder how people felt when this was aired. I might have felt like being scammed, not finding an episode of the concept that I sat down to watch. But who knows, maybe such change of mood was welcome as people were getting bored of the genral of the show.
As a stand alone production, it sucks. As an experiment to take place somewhere in the very long run of a highly successful show, it's okay.
The story is not bad at all. It could have worked to make us laugh all the way if only the attempt at campy humor had found its way through the loopholes of the Little House on the Prairie universe.
I wonder how people felt when this was aired. I might have felt like being scammed, not finding an episode of the concept that I sat down to watch. But who knows, maybe such change of mood was welcome as people were getting bored of the genral of the show.
As a stand alone production, it sucks. As an experiment to take place somewhere in the very long run of a highly successful show, it's okay.
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